World Class Features. Modest Price. The Springfield 1911 Champion Operator Lightweight is a solid, robust, mid- sized .45ACP with lots of semi- custom refinements. It has a well deserved reputation for feeding reliably, has an extraordinarily smooth action, and is considered one of the best production grade pistols on the market.

The Springfield 1911 Champion Operator includes all the modern-day improvements that used to be performed exclusively by custom gunsmiths – and it could easily cost you $500 to $1,000 to have all these improvements done – depending on which gunsmith you selected to work on your stock 1911.

The big problem was there was no guarantee that your gun would be returned any better than it was before you sent it off, and you could easily have been without your 1911 for six months to a year. Springfield has taken all of the guess work and hassle out of buying a 1911 with the ultra reliable, ultra accurate, ultra affordable Champion Series pistol.

The finish is black Armory Kote, and the best way to describe the look of the gun is to say it’s all business. This is a baked on Teflon impregnated polymer coating.
The finish has a 40- hour salt water corrosion resistance and a smooth self
lubricating finish which allows for easier holster removal.

Armory Kote will not scratch
like traditional bluing or Parkerizing. The pistol features a 4-inch match grade, stainless steel barrel that provides a tight fit for enhanced accuracy. To further increase reliability, the chamber and feed ramp have been throated and polished.

For maximum reliability and accuracy, a forged aluminum alloy frame and forged carbon steel slide have been precision-fit . The slide includes front and rear cocking serrations for improved handling, and a titanium firing pin for a faster lock-time. The gun has no sharp edges—Springfield calls this their “carry bevel” treatment—and it wears dovetail-mounted front and rear sights.

The sights are fast and easy to pick-up and provide a great sight picture. The rear sight is the low, swept-back “Novak” style, and both front and rear sights have tritium inserts.To further improve lock time and give the shooter higher performance, an elongated spurless hammer that Springfield refers to as “Delta lightweight” has been included.

The grip panels are a very attractive South American cocobolo hardwood, nicely checkered and bearing the Springfield Crossed Cannons emblem. The ejection port is lowered and flared, and the magazine well is very slightly beveled. A skeletonized aluminum, match-grade trigger breaks cleanly at 5 to 6 pounds, is adjustable for overtravel and is exceptionally crisp.

An elongated and serrated ambidextrous thumb safety provide instant disengagement at the flick of the thumb. The nicely textured rear grip frame allows for a positive hold, while the beavertail grip safety, with its memory bump, provides consistently reliable disengagement.

An extended beavertail keeps unwanted hand parts away from the skeletonized hammer. The recoil system uses a dual spring one- piece guide rod. This is a mid- size, lightweight 1911 weighing in at only 31- ounces with an empty magazine inserted. That’s a few ounces lighter than John M. Browning’s original variant, but the gun balances so well in the hand and rides naturally that the difference is not readily noticeable.

Just like all Springfield 1911s, a key-lock safety system is integral to the mainspring housing and can be utilized to block the compression of the mainspring assembly and prevent the hammer from firing. The mainspring housing is another component that can be easily switched out for an uncheckered or arched housing.

In addition, all Springfield 1911's feature a loaded chamber indicator. The barrel slot allows you to look down and clearly see the brass case of a chambered round. The magazine release pushes in easily with the right hand thumb, or index finger of the left hand.

An integral Picatinny rail is included on the frame for the addition of tactical accessories such as lights or laser sights. The gun comes with two 7-round magazines that comfortably slide into a beveled magazine well.

The all-steel design loads easily (without the use of an aid) and drop freely from the pistol when you press the release button. Inside the Springfield Champion Operator package you will also find a great carry case, a polymer holster, double magazine carrier, a cleaning brush, and an instruction manual. Overall, right out of the box, the Springfield 1911 Champion Operator Lightweight is ready for serious concealed carry, is extremely reliable and will make an outstanding self- defense handgun.

Established in 1993, Champion Firearms is a retail gun store and indoor range located in College Station, Texas.